For months, both Brittney Griner and the U.S. State Department have been carefully measured in everything they said about her detainment in Russia on drug charges. And then came Wednesday.
First, Griner testified in court, telling the judge that when she was arrested Feb. 17 she was denied proper translation, wasn't read her rights, was denied access to a lawyer and was coerced by her interpreter into signing papers she couldn't understand. Her testimony marked a notable shift from her "keep your head down and don't make waves" strategy. She'll find out if it had any effect next week: Sources expect a verdict and sentence Aug.